Susan Boyle - Saturn In Virgo? Venus In Aries?

If you haven't seen Susan Boyle's appearance on 'Britain's Got Talent' have a watch right now before reading further: here

Wish I had her chart details as there's something strongly emphasising the healing energy of Pluto in Virgo in her ability to draw all the unkind, cynical, disillusionment right out of us all like squeezing a big spot, leaving us wide open to renewed faith that life really IS a series of sassy sublime moments that are difficult to predict or prepare for, and it's this unpredictability that's actually a source of joy and refreshment rather than something to be guarded about.

The whole thing embodies current planet placements too - Saturn in Virgo in the self contained, mature woman who stands self-approving in the face of massive criticism; rising to the challenge Venus in Aries style: uncompromising and thankfully self-ish enough to maintain self-acceptance rather than be diminished by the sneery suspicion that others are projecting her way. There's also something Neptune in Aquarius/Uranus in Pisces here too, as collectively I think we've been waiting to be won over like this for an awful long time. It answers a deep need for people who can take us beyond the emptiness of conditional approval to unconditional appreciation, which can only happen when what is deemed real, important or necessary about gaining others approval is put to the test. It feels so good to watch Susan win the nation over in such an intense way because it feels so good to watch preconceptions fall away and appreciate another unconditionally. It's satisfying and fulfilling because we're wired that way.

Venus retrograde 2009

So we are in the midst of Venus retrograde (retro = appears to move backwards). Even though Venus just turned retro over the weekend, the full cycle began early Feb and will end late May. Here's why:

Feb 3 - Venus reached 29 degrees of Pisces (beginning of 'shadow phase')
March 6 - Venus travelled to 15 degrees of Aries and turned retrograde (appeared to turn around and move back on itself)
April 17 - Venus returns to 29 degrees of Pisces (that is how you get the shadow phase degree - its the degree that Venus moves back to before stopping to turn 'direct' again)
May 21 - Venus retreads path to 15 degrees of Aries, crossing that March 6th turnaround point, finishing the full cycle.

So what's all that about? Well, rule of thumb that works well for any planet retrograde is to stick to words that begin with 're'.... so it's a period of reconnecting, reviewing, returning, relocating, retracing, retreading, etc etc, and as Venus is the planet of relationship and relativity, the Venus scope of influence is being amplified in all sorts of ways.

What was happening late Jan early Feb would have helped set the tone for your personal retro phase (the essence continues to echo through events) but while the exact dates are never that important, the general theme within a general timeframe are; as well as remembering that astrology is about cycles within cycles, so the bigger picture of Venus's eight year movement is relevant here too.

Last time Venus was retro in the sign of Aries was eight years ago you see, so is there anything similar back then to now? Maybe it won't come to light till after this retro time has been lived, but it will be there somewhere. Aries is a bold energy -'fierce' as they keep saying on America's Next Top Model - it's a straightforward as-the-crow-flies energy that's all about following or flowing with what you want from you, rather than being focused on what others don't want from you. Being in touch with, or being sensitive and responsive to your own desires is something that gets those with a strong Aries influence the label of 'selfish', but of course you only ever get called selfish by those who want you to do it their way instead!

So who was labelling you selfish eight years ago? or who were you fuming with for being so selfish? Ring any bells to now? The retrograde phase indicates there can be significant turning points in your perspective on relationships, while Venus in Aries indicates self-ish relationships are the order of the day... and hopefully so, as it's only by following your own inner direction that the world makes any sense.

Full Moon In Taurus And Comet Holmes

Way back in 1892, two days after the annual full moon in Taurus, a comet was spotted by Edwin Holmes after its brightness increased significantly, making it more noticeable in the skies. Now 115 years later and two days before this year’s full moon in Taurus (UK time = 26th Oct @ 6am), it suddenly and unexpectedly expanded in brightness again, moving from being an under-achieving, average Joe in the luminosity ladder to being one of its fastest rising stars, plucking it out of astronomy obscurity faster than a reality-show contestant can say ‘overnight success’ (story here)

So what’s that all about then? Is it simply referring to the reappearance of the utterly luminescent reality-show winner, singer Leona Lewis with her newly released single, the darkly Scorpio/Taurus themed ‘Bleeding Love’ (You cut me open and I keep bleeding love!!)? Or is there something more? (And something more than being headed for those doom and gloom predictions that comet astrologers of old invested so heavily in, as I have really had it up to here with irritating apocalyptic predictions, it’s all SO 1999)

Along with the smooth as a sports car synchronicity of the Taurus full moon link-up spanning 115 years, it was the quick and unexpected change in the comet’s appearance that got my attention, because Uranus, planet of sudden, unusual, and unpredictable movement is currently opposed to Venus, the planet that rules Taurus, (and therefore a VIP planet for this full moon chart), while Jupiter, the planet of increase and optimism, sits at right angles to both Venus/Uranus.

But not only that, the comet is located in the constellation of Perseus, the mythical Greek action hero responsible for rescuing his future bride Andromeda from the clutches of some terrible sea monster while on his journey to slay scary snake-haired Medusa. Perseus is the ultimate swashbuckling romantic hero (very Mars in Cancer), and is portrayed as the emotionally driven Knight of Cups in the Mythic Tarot, because the authors saw a strong similarity to the arms-length idealising of women that medieval knights favoured . According to the Mythic Tarot description “Perseus is different from other heroes precisely because of this high idealism and worship of women”. Not sure about that, but it's certainly all very Venusian and rather lunar too, especially the lunar earth of Taurus opposing the deep waters of Scorpio; and weirdly the Perseus/Andromeda story seems to be playing out in the full moon line-up of planets. Taken from this translation of Ovid, here's the meeting of Perseus and Andromeda:

"As soon as Perseus saw Andromeda's arms bound to the rocky cliffs--he might have thought her a marble statue, save that the light breeze ruffled her hair and a slow tear dripped from her eye--he felt the fires of love. He gaped, so taken by the beauty of her form that he almost forgot to beat the air with his wings. Hovering he cried, "O, you shouldn't be bound with these chains but rather with the bonds that link lovers! Tell me your name, your nation, and why you are shackled here!"

At first the maiden said nothing, embarrassed to answer a strange man. She would have hidden her modest face in her hands had they not been bound. Her eyes were free; they brimmed with tears.

Finally after many false starts, afraid that it would seem her silence was hiding her own crimes, she told him her name and her country and explained that she was chained here because her mother had so boasted of her beauty. Before she could finish the story, the waves thundered and an oncoming beast towered over the great sea, hiding the waters beneath its breast".

Isn't the sheer optimism of Perseus, in his willingness to take on the 'impossible' task and heroic journey of slaying Medusa, more than a bit Jupiter in Sagittarius? and then there's the modest maiden (Venus in Virgo) reaching for freedom from the sea monster unleashed by Poseidon (Uranus in Pisces). Turns out this full moon theme unexpectedly has Perseus meeting Andromeda, via the slaying of Scorpio type she-devil's, written all over it.



There's more on the comet here, and from Lynn Hayes here,
on the astrology of comets here,
and more about the myth of Perseus here , and here.

'Les Fleurs' For 15 Degrees Of Taurus

When the sun reaches 15 degrees of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius) it indicates a cross-quarter day in the cycle of the year, and marks a mid-point within the cross of cardinal signs Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.

At this point in the wheel of the year, we're mid-way between the equinox point of zero degrees Aries, and the solstice point of zero degrees Cancer. It's a seasonal turning in the wheel from spring to summer if you're in the northern hemisphere, and the corresponding festivals reflect this. As earthy Taurus is ruled by Venus, who was a Goddess of love and beauty, it's no surprise there are blossoming flower maiden's and May Queen's in abundance at this time of year.

The sun reaches 15 degrees of Taurus on 5th May 2007, so in celebration and appreciation of the Venus spirit here's Minnie Riperton's goose bump inducing 'Les Fleurs' on a great YouTube offering. Interestingly, Minnie Riperton was born at 15 degrees of Scorpio...

LES FLEUR
Will somebody wear me to the fair?
Will a lady pin me in her hair?
Will a child find me by a stream?
Kiss my petals and weave me through a dream.

For all of these simple things and much more a flower was born
It blooms to spread love and joy faith and hope to people forlorn

Inside every man lives the seed of a flower
If he looks within he finds beauty and power

Ring all the bells sing and tell the people be aware that the flower has come
Light up the sky with your prayers of gladness and rejoice for the darkness is gone
Throw off your fears let your heart beat freely at the sign that a new time is born

Venus In Scorpio: Kate Moss

Another embodiment of the Venus in Scorpio energy is the Kate Moss cocaine kerfuffle.(Not sure why it was such big news though, as her b.f. is the pale, damp-skinned Pete Doherty for gawd's sake). Venus in Scorpio likes having something to hide, as well as secretly liking everyone finding out - Kate allegedly believes this is going to raise her profile, and it probably will.
Her chart, if the birthdate is correct, shows an early degree Scorpio Moon, which means Venus was around that spot when the story broke. Venus is also in opposition to her Mars in Taurus. This, as I mentioned previously, is where Mars is now, and along with the upcoming eclipse, where all the astro action is focused, for the forseeable. So here is something to watch for: Mars retrogrades on October 2nd, and then stops on the degree of Kate's Mars in early December, returning to this current degree next Feb. Astrology is suggesting that this is a significant time for Kate, that the story began in early August, and that it isn't over yet.
More on a Scorpio theme here

technorati: Scorpio kate moss